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Traktor - advice needed please

Ok, I need some advice from any Traktor Pro users out there...

I've currently got 2 x CDJ1000 mk2's and a Xone92 and just lately I've been getting to urge to get Traktor Pro so that I can start being more creative with my mixes.

The only problem is that I really dont know what setup would be ideal for what I want to do. Shall I sell my CDJ's and Xone92 and just use a decent MIDI controller or should I use Native Instrument's Audio 8 DJ unit so that I can still use the CDJs and Xone92?

Obviously selling all my gear and getting a decent MIDI controller would leave me with a lot of spare money which is tempting but I dont want to do this if I am limiting myself somewhat.

Can anyone of you guys give me pros and cons for each setup type?

Basically I just wanna start doing more with my mixes rather just mixing from A to B to C etc and Traktor is now pretty much becoming the industry standard for this being used by many big names out there.

Any help would be much appreciated :-)

Ta

Whatever you decide to do, keep the Xone:92. You probably don't want to mix in software, and having the xone will allow you to continue mixing outside of Traktor. I know people who use Traktor with CDJs for 2 decks and use 1 midi controller for third deck/effects controls.

Ultimately, you will have to decide what you want to do. You should probably pick up Traktor first and see how you like it with timecode and the CDJs. You may find that all you need after that is a midi controller for additional decks/effects.

I actually use both midi and an external mixer.

If you go all digital its easy to take to gigs. Midi controller, laptop, and sound card.

If you buy Traktor Scratch Pro all you would need to bring to gigs is the sound card,laptop, and timcode vinyl/cds, the cables of course. You get to use external fx and whatever the venue has (cdj/1200s)

If your going to be doing gigs might be easier to go all digi... If your just a bedroom dj i would say keep the xone! that mixer pwns!

I honestly think you should sell the decks. me myself I don't even use a midi controller; just the keyboard, and it still works very well. There are numerous options for you though depending on many different factors. I enjoy the fact all I have to do is plug in my battery for the comp, plug the sound card in to the mixer and my comp and i'm ready to go. Makes setting up very quick and simple so there are no issues working around another dj.

Depending on what features you'll be focusing on most in traktor will tell you whether you need to get more equipment; keep your cdjs or not, and whether or not you'll need to pick up a midi controller. I don't use any of the efx as I have a djm 800 but since you have a xone you will probably be interested in that more so.

no one on here can tell you what to do, you've got to try both options for yourself. I know lots of people who have got sold their decks, got a midi controller, and regretted it cuz they miss the more tactile feel of beatmatching with decks. Others have kept their decks only to switch to a midi controller because they dont see the point in beatmatching any more. Get a midi controller and try both, you can always return it if you wanna stick to decks.

quote:

Originally posted by Polt Whatever you decide to do, keep the Xone:92. You probably don't want to mix in software, and having the xone will allow you to continue mixing outside of Traktor. I know people who use Traktor with CDJs for 2 decks and use 1 midi controller for third deck/effects controls. Ultimately, you will have to decide what you want to do. You should probably pick up Traktor first and see how you like it with timecode and the CDJs. You may find that all you need after that is a midi controller for additional decks/effects.

first of all thanks for all the replies!

I would dedinately not want to mix in software which is why I was thinking about a midi controller. But I was under the impression that the xone92 didn't have enough midi functions for it to beable to fully control ttaktor the way I wanted it to.

And when you say to try out timecode, doesn't that mean that I need to get an NI Audio 8 DJ unit or something similar for this to work? Forgive me if I am way off the mark here :-)

I suppose whichever decision I make, I need to buy Traktor Pro first and then see but I have a concern that the Xone92 won't control enough of the software foe it to work without buying additonal hardware. Again, tell me if I am speaking crap here.

Cheers

After looking into this some more, it seems like I need to buy Traktor Scratch Pro as this is the whole package that includes the Audio 8 DJ and timecode CDs as well as the software.

My only question is this... can I still use my Xone:92 with this setup? Yes my CDJs will still be in use but will I have to mix in-software?

I wasn't trying to suggest that you use the Xone to control the software, use it with the soundcard as your mixer. The Traktor packages are a bit confusing to me, I guess Scratch Pro is the one with timecode support - I'd still try out the timecode cds with your cdjs before you sell them.

why not get a traktor scratch duo and upgrade to scratch pro. Or buy a traktor scratch pro in edu discounted prices. Because the thing is that your cdj 1000 mk2 cannot auto sync to your traktor pro. If you want to sell everything. I suggest not to, because the fact that you can get scratch pro and midi sync to whatever application you have eg ableton live etc etc..

quote:

Originally posted by agentdansmith After looking into this some more, it seems like I need to buy Traktor Scratch Pro as this is the whole package that includes the Audio 8 DJ and timecode CDs as well as the software. My only question is this... can I still use my Xone:92 with this setup? Yes my CDJs will still be in use but will I have to mix in-software?

No man. In fact; never do you have to mix in software and most people don't. I sold my cdjs and kept my mixer. It's just replacing/adding to the cdj element; the mixing stays the same unless you'd like for it to be otherwise.

I sold all of my equip (xone92, 2 x cdj800s) to buy a midi controller (xone4d) and im not regretting it, but im regretting selling the CDJs. Controlling deck A and deck B with the jog is not fun. When i move into my new place im going to invest in technics again just so i can control the decks easier.

quote:

Originally posted by Polt I wasn't trying to suggest that you use the Xone to control the software, use it with the soundcard as your mixer. The Traktor packages are a bit confusing to me, I guess Scratch Pro is the one with timecode support - I'd still try out the timecode cds with your cdjs before you sell them.

the problem with timecode CDs is that TSP can't auto sync the beats unless they are internal tracks - is this right? If so then I would really need to get some sort of midi controller to control the decks internally rather than in timecode mode.

Tell me if I way off the mark though :-)

you can use time code cd's and sync, but when you sync a deck you are no longer using the timecode.
eg playing both decks off timecode and manually beat match. Deck A is master, if you press sync on deck B, it's stay matched to A. However, if you do anything other than stop deck B, it'll drop out of sync mode since you obviously want manual control of the deck back. so you're either in internal mode/sync, or manual control via timecode.
you can still sync decks 3/4 to either of the timecode decks. and when playing this way it means the effects sync properly.

I would personally keep the setup you have and buy a midi controller. Loops, effects, track selections, play/cue functions, you don't need a massive controller. I find if I play just in midi, it's great if I'm looping and mashing it up, but ininvolving if I'm mostly mixing, I play of time code for that

quote:

Originally posted by tubby I would personally keep the setup you have and buy a midi controller. Loops, effects, track selections, play/cue functions, you don't need a massive controller. I find if I play just in midi, it's great if I'm looping and mashing it up, but ininvolving if I'm mostly mixing, I play of time code for that

I totally see what you're saying but the problem I have is funds If I sell one of my CDJs, I can then afford to buy TSP and a Xone:1d so that way I still have one CDJ at least for manual control over any deck and the MIDI controller to control the other decks/effects.

Ideally I would love to keep both CDJs but I just cannot afford to buy everything I need and keep what I have.

The Xone:1d looks like a good MIDI controller for the money (£197.00) - whats your opinion on this device? Got any other better suggestions?

Cheers

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